Wedge for tool-handles



(No Model.)

G. P. MORRILL.

WEDGE FOR TOOL HANDLES.

No. 362,989. Patented May 1'7, 1887.

WE I IVITTEDIC 4 WM, y?

UNTTED STATES PATENT @EFicE.

GEORGE P. MORRILL, OF CANTERBURY, NE\V HAMPSHIRE.

WEDGE FOR TOOL-HANDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,989, dated May 17, 1887.

Application tiled April 5,1883. Serial No. 90,691.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. MoRRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canterbury, in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in AX and Tool Handle \Vedges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1, 2, and 3 show different forms of wedges, each embodying myimprovement.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

Iron or metallic wedges have been long in use, and such wedges have also been used having one or more projecting spurs upon theside or sides for the purpose of preventing the wedge from being jarred out in the operation of pounding, chopping, or splitting; but the use ofa spur on the side of the wedge does not resist the tendency to jar out as much as a spur on the edge, while it offers a greater resistance to being pulled out by a force applied to the head of the wedge, often causing the flange or head A to be broken off in the attempt to get the wedge out.

In the form of wedge shown in Figs. 2 and 3, where a Crosswedge, B, is used, the tendency of the wedge to work out by the jarring in chopping or pounding is greatly increased, and to obviate this tendency to jar out, and at the same time but slightly increase the resistance of the wedge to being pulled out, I place a spur on one or both edges of the wedge, as at a a, Fig. 1; or, in case a cross wedge or wedges are used, I place the spur on the face or outer side of the cross-wedge, as at b b in Figs. 2 and 3.

By combining a spur with the erosawedge B, or wedges, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I cause the spur to enter the wood in a portion (N0 model.)

where the fibers have not been separated by the action of the main or central wedge, C, as would be the case when the spur is placed on the edge, as shown in Fig. 1, while at the same time the spur is placed in the same position with reference to the central wedge, O, in all three forms shown, which I have found to be the most advantageous in order to prevent the wedge from being jarred out.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of spurs on wedges; nor do I claim the use of one or more cross-wedges, as such were shown in Letters Patent granted to me February 3, 1880.

\Vedges have been made having their parallel sides extended at the lower or thin end of the wedge in order to increase the edge of the wedge. Such a wedge is shown in Letters Patent No. 132,9l5. Such I do not claim.

I am also aware that a frustum of a wedge having spurs on its edge has been made for an entirely different purpose. Such a frustum was shown in the Letters Patent to Blythe, No. 258,276. Such I do not herein claim; but

\Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A metallic ax or tool handle wedge formed of two opposite or tapering sides, said sides approaching at one end of the wedge to form an edge, two opposite and parallel sides, and spurs placed on said parallel sides, said spurs being V-shaped, with their lower edges tapering to enter the wood of the handle readily, and their upper edges forming substantially right angles with the sides of the wedge, so as to engage the wood and resist the extraction of the wedge, substantially as described.

GEO. P. MORRILL.

Vitncsses: I

R. B. FOWLER, Gno. E. SMITH. 

